by Whitney Matheson, USA TODAY

by Whitney Matheson, USA TODAY

Though I was certainly aware of DC and Marvel books when I was a kid, I didn't become a fan of comics until much later, when I realized they could go far beyond capes and powers.

Independent publisher PictureBox embraced everything comics could be, and then some. This week I was disappointed to hear its founder, Dan Nadel, has decided to shut down at the end of the year.

PictureBox released books from many of my favorite artists and "comix" innovators, including Brian Chippendale, Sammy Harkham, Renee French, Julie Doucet, Marc Bell, Gary Panter and filmmaker Michel Gondry. Nadel says the decision was personal, and the company "is no longer feasible for me as a thoroughgoing venture."

Nadel championed experimental work that didn't always adhere to traditional storytelling formulas and, frankly, may not have been distributed by anyone else. He clearly loved the books he published as much as the artists themselves and could be spotted at nearly every convention and festival.

If there's a silver lining to this, it may be that PictureBox is now running a massive sale with 50% off all titles. I strongly encourage you to pick up a few.

While it may seem like we're in a comics renaissance right now with comic-book-fueled stories gracing the big and small screens and graphic novels on bestseller lists, it's important to remember that many independent publishers are still struggling. PictureBox will be missed for its creative content and daring spirit, which only increased my love of the medium.

Correction: An earlier version of this post said Dan Nadel founded Comic Arts Brooklyn. Nadel is not affiliated with the event.